Which statement is accurate about pavilion depth percentage?

• A. It is the distance from the girdle plane to the culet expressed as a percentage of average girdle diameter.
• B. It is the table width expressed as a percentage of the girdle diameter.
• C. It is the crown height expressed as a percentage of girdle diameter.
• D. It is the culet size expressed as a percentage of girdle diameter.

Answer: (A)

Pavilion depth percentage measures the depth of the pavilion, which is the lower portion of the diamond below the girdle, from the girdle plane down to the culet, expressed as a percentage of the diamond’s average girdle diameter. Using the distance from girdle plane to culet and dividing by the average girdle diameter gives a consistent proportion that describes how deep the pavilion is relative to the stone’s width. This is the precise definition because it targets the lower half of the diamond and uses the girdle diameter as the reference. The other options refer to different proportions: table width relates to the top facet; crown height concerns the portion above the girdle; culet size is about how large the culet itself is relative to the girdle, not the depth of the pavilion.